Union runs away from RPI, 8-3

Box Score

by Ryan Fay

Notes from Union's 8-3 win over RPI in the third annual non-conference Mayor's Cup game at the Times Union Center in Albany....

** Union trailed, 3-2, after two periods. But the Dutchmen ran away from the Engineers with six goals in the third. Ryan Scarfo, Daniel Ciampini, Mike Vecchione and Eli Lichtenwald all scored in the third for Union, with Ciampini and Vecchione both scoring twice in the frame.

The six-goal outburst marked the most goals Union ever scored in the third period of a game during the program's Division I era. It tied the team record for the most goals in any single period.

Union celebrates with the Mayor's Cup after beating RPI, 8-3,
on Saturday at the Times Union Center in Albany
photo credit: Union College Sports Information

** Colin Stevens won his 47th career game, setting a Division I era program record for most goaltender wins. The Niskayuna native moved past Kris Mayotte, who won 46 from 2002-2006. Stevens wasn't tested much in his record-setting effort, as Union held RPI to just 13 shots on goal.

** Ciampini recorded his second hat trick of the season (the other was 11/15 vs Princeton). The Hobey Baker candidate also added three assists, giving him a six-point night. That matched the team's Division I era record for the most points in a single game (Jason Ralph, 11/5/99 vs Colgate). 

Ciampini's first goal on Saturday was also his 100th career point, making him just the 12th player to reach that milestone in the program's Division I era. By the time night was over, Ciampini was up to ninth place on the program's career points list with 105.

** Matt Wilkins came into the night with three assists on the season, but he blew that total away with a career-high four helpers.

** Vecchione, who is also a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award, set a career-high in points with five. He scored twice and added three assists.

** The top line of Ciampini, Vecchione and Wilkins combined for five goals and 10 assists.

** Union dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 48 of 68 draws. Vecchione was a major reason why, as he won 21 of his 25 draws.

** Scarfo continues his emergence. The freshman scored his eighth goal of the season when he began Union's third period outburst just 17 seconds into the frame. Six of his eight goals have come in his last seven contests.

** Union's eight goal night was the team's highest single-game goal output since an 8-0 win over American International on Oct. 26, 2012.

** The last time RPI gave up eight or more goals in a game was an 8-3 loss to Colgate on Feb. 4, 2012.

** Freshman Nick Desimone notched his first collegiate goal when he cut RPI's lead to 3-2 with a power-play tally at 17:14 of the second.

** The win snapped Union's three-game losing streak against RPI, as well as Union's three-game losing streak overall.

** Union moved to 12-10-2 on the season. RPI dropped to 9-17-1.

** Union has won two of the three Mayor's Cup games, beating RPI, 3-2, in 2013 and 8-3 this year. RPI won, 2-1, last year.

** Saturday's attendance was 8,714, the most for any of the three Mayor's Cup games. Last year's game was attended by 7,100 people, and the inaugural game drew 5,959.

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